In a desperate attempt to win back the loyalties of the influential Reddy community ahead of the by elections in Andra Pradesh, Congress has questioned if YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy can be regarded as a member of the community when his family follow Christianity.
Jagan is a third generation Roman Catholic Christian as his grandfather Raja Reddy was baptised as a Catholic several decades ago. His family continues to follow Catholic traditions. Former minister and Anantapur strongman J C Diwakar Reddy said Jaganmohan couldn't belong to the Reddy community because "he is a devout Christian".
"He cannot call himself a Reddy because his family strictly follows Catholic traditions, not Hindu customs," he said.
By raising the caste issue, Congress hopes to win back Reddies who were once the party’s backbone and dominate the poll-bound Rayalaseema region. The community had been carefully cultivated by the late Y S Rajasekar Reddy and, when Jagan broke away from the Congress after the party refused to anoint him as his father’s successor, shifted their allegiance to him.
Kamalapuram MLA and another Congress stalwart from Rayalaseema G Veerasiva Reddy said: “ We have to win the Reddy community back for the Congress to retain power in the next elections."
The leaders targeted Jagan’s brother-in-law Anil Kumar, who became Christian after marrying YSR’s daughter Sharmila and a known evangelist, saying he is forming his own mission to spread Christianity across the country. "With this family background, how can Jaganmohan claim that he is a Reddy?" Diwakar Reddy asked.
Reacting to the Congress’ tactics, a YSR Congress spokesperson said a fitting reply would be given at a more appropriate time. The Congress, with a view to attacking Jagan from all fronts, is also questioning his stand on Telangana.
FROM deccanherald
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